I, robot? AI and consciousness

Elbows up, again: a US-Canada trade flare-up

Promising trade talks imploded after a literal 11th-hour change from the American side. We examine the new trade barriers being erected, and the complex calculation [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/23/the-costs-of-defying-donald-trump-are-mounting-for-canada?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] for Prime Minister Mark Carney. In Japan Gen X workers are even still bearing the costs [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/08/18/japans-gen-x-workers-are-struggling?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] of an economic bubble-burst from the 1990s. And how fates of civilisations have turned on sieges throughout history [https://www.economist.com/international/2026/07/31/the-war-room-newsletter-the-most-significant-sieges-in-history?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners].  Guests and host: * Hal Hodson, Americas editor * Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter * Richard Cockett, senior digital editor * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Canada, the United States, tariffs, Mark Carney, trade war * Japan, Gen X, labour market * sieges, world history Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

I, robot? AI and consciousness

The rise of generative AI has put new urgency into ancient questions. What is consciousness, and can machines ever have it [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/20/could-ais-become-conscious?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]? We dive into the data that reveal a surge [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/08/09/sexually-transmitted-infections-are-surging-in-europe?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] in sexually transmitted infections in Europe. And our obituaries editor considers the life of Mary de Rachewiltz [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/08/20/mary-de-rachewiltz-devoted-her-life-to-defending-ezra-pound], translator and tireless defender of her father, Ezra Pound.  Watch extended clips from Insider here [https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi]. Guests and host: * Alok Jha, science & technology editor * Stephen Hurford, newsdesk writer * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * AI, consciousness * sexual health, STIs, STDs, Europe * Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bombs and bombshells: Zelensky under pressure

From anti-corruption probes to a disgruntled ex-minister calling for elections to disrupted grain shipments, headaches are mounting [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/08/18/russian-attacks-are-doing-severe-harm-to-ukraines-economy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. China has until now coped with a patchy, pricey system for mental-health treatment. The government is now getting serious [https://www.economist.com/china/2026/08/13/in-china-treatment-for-mental-health-problems-is-a-luxury?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] about plugging the gaps. And why a debate [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/08/07/the-dark-underbelly-of-paw-patrol?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] over “Paw Patrol” is more than just culture-war madness.  Guests and host: * Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent * Sarah Wu, China correspondent * Andrew Miller, special correspondent * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Fedorov * China, CCP, mental health * Paw Patrol, culture wars Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Wake-up haul: an Ozempic moment for the brain

Orexins are peptides involved in the body’s sleep-wake system—and are big pharma’s next big thing. Like multi-purpose GLPs, they may have far more uses [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/08/11/the-brain-may-be-about-to-have-its-ozempic-moment?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] than just regulating shuteye. We ask why Japan’s post-war innovation boom petered out, and what must be done to breed more unicorns [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/13/japans-downbeat-startups-need-a-lift?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. And why procrastination seems to be on the rise, and how to beat it [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/07/31/how-to-stop-procrastinating?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Guests and host: * Shailesh Chitnis, global business correspondent * Ethan Wu, Asia business and finance editor * Benjamin Sutherland, science writer * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * orexins, peptides, sleep disorders, pharmaceuticals * Japan, innovation, startups * procrastination Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Settler bet: a West Bank flashpoint

Israeli settlers have been clashing more and more [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/08/17/violent-israeli-settlers-want-to-provoke-a-palestinian-uprising?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] with Palestinians in the West Bank, often with government backing. We examine the forces at play in what could soon be yet another battlefront. India’s proliferating civil codes [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/08/12/should-every-indian-follow-the-same-rules?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] are creating insuperable legal contradictions for a multi-faith people. And answering some letters [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/06/the-return-of-max-flannel-our-workplace-agony-uncle?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] addressed to our “agony uncle” columnist.  Guests and host: * Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent * Kira Huju, Asia correspondent * Andrew Palmer, executive editor * Jason Palmer (no relation), co-host of “The Intelligence” * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * West Bank, Palestinians, Israeli settlers, Israel election * India, civil codes, Hindu nationalism * management, advice Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.